Tight end Chris Clark, first offered by Syracuse football last summer, commits to North Carolina

Syracuse, N.Y. — Chris Clark, a four-star tight end from Avon, Conn., verbally committed to North Carolina on Sunday, he announced via Twitter.

Clark, a 2015 recruit, attended a Syracuse football camp last June at SUNY Maritime and later received a scholarship offer from the Orange. It was the first offer for one of the top tight ends in the nation.

I am proud to say I have officially committed to North Carolina had to go with my heart this place feels like home pic.twitter.com/0ohEkYB2T2

The 6-foot-6, 247-pounder visited Syracuse in the fall but was thought to be a longshot to sign with the Orange next year as more blue-blood programs showed interest. By the time he committed to North Carolina, Clark had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and South Carolina, among others.

His commitment is not binding until he signs a letter of intent in February.

"To a lot of people it's going to be a big surprise," Clark told 247Sports.com. "I just feel real good with the coaching staff and where they're headed in the ACC. Coach (Seth) Littrell knows how to use the tight end, so I'm real excited to play in his offense."

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